Chargers Preview
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by Silencer76
So, as I said before, I am in the midst of writing NFL previews on my blog, Juuust a Bit Outside, and figured that I would post one more up here on the Chair before I go back into the depths of doing these. I really wanted to post my preview of the Browns, but I figured that would be uneventful. So, here we go with the Chargers. If you want to see what I have done about other teams, feel free to go to my blog and read them. The AFC East and North are completed, and I plan on finishing the West by tomorrow, then the South in the following two days.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (14-2 in 2006, lost 24-21 to New England in AFC Divisional Playoff): The Chargers were nearly unstoppable last season, as they raced to a 14-2 regular season mark, winning their final ten games of the year. Both of their regular season losses came by three points, to Baltimore (16-13) in Baltimore and Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium (30-27). A late meltdown in the postseason cost them a chance to go to the AFC title game. The Chargers will be back, and hungry, in 2007.
KEY ADDITIONS: WR Craig Davis (30th overall pick in draft, LSU), S Eric Weddle (37th overall pick, Utah), LB Anthony Waters (draft, Clemson), TE Scott Chandler (draft, Iowa), WR Legedu Naanee (draft, Boise State), LB Brandon Siler (draft, Florida), CB Paul Oliver (supplemental draft, Georgia)
KEY DEFECTIONS: WR Keenan McCardell (released, since signed with Houston), WR Az-Zahir Hakim (FA, Miami), TE Ryan Krause (FA, CLE), T Leander Jordan (FA, Atlanta), LB Donnie Edwards (FA, Kansas City), S Terrence Kiel (released), TE Aaron Shea (released), LB Steve Foley (released), LB Randall Godfrey (released)
OFFENSE: The Chargers are loaded with weapons, led by the versatile running back LaDainian Tomlinson. They also have a solid young quarterback in Philip Rivers, an All Pro tight end in Antonio Gates, a crushing fullback in Lorenzo Neal, and a backup running back who could start on quite a few teams in Michael "Burner" Turner.
The Chargers posted the most points in the NFL a season ago, with 492, an average of 30.75 points a game. They were middle of the pack in passing yards, but easily made up for that with the second most rushing attempts (522), second most rushing yards (2578), fourth best yards per carry average (4.94) and the most rushing touchdowns (32) in the NFL.
Philip Rivers made his first season as a starter count, making the Pro Bowl, while connecting on 61.7 percent of his passes for 3388 yards, along with 22 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. He was sacked just 27 times, and ended with a QB rating of 92.0. Capable backup Billy Volek is number two on the depth chart, with Charlie Whitehurst number three. Rivers is only 25, so he has a ton of upside still in front of him.
What more can possibly be said about All Pro LaDainian Tomlinson? The man can do it all. He can run (league leading 1815 yards, 5.2 yards per carry, NFL record 28 rushing touchdowns). He can catch the ball (56 receptions, 508 yards, 3 touchdowns.) Hell, he can even THROW (2 of 3, 20 yards, 2 TD in 06. For his career he is 7 of 10 throwing for 126 yards and six scores.) On top of that, Tomlinson has missed just ONE game his first six years in the league. He has already accumulated 9176 rushing yards in his career, and 398 receptions to boot. As if all that weren't enough, the guy is sure handed, he put the ball on the ground just twice last season, in over 400 touches. Michael Turner is the backup, who quite simply, could be a #1 on a lot of clubs. Turner ran for 502 yards on just 80 carries in 2006, and creates all kinds of mismatch issues for defenses in formations where he and Tomlinson are featured. Lorenzo Neal, who made the Pro Bowl again, is the sledgehammer blocking fullback.
The receiving corps is where the Chargers need someone to step up and become a big play threat. Antonio Gates is the leading returning receiver for the Bolts, as he grabbed 71 balls for 924 yards and nine TDs in 2006, making the Pro Bowl again. Eric Parker (48, 659, 0) would have been one of the starting wide receivers, but a cracked sesamoid bone in his big toe required surgery, and he is slated to miss the first two months of the season. Vincent Jackson (27, 453, 6) is going to have to become a bona fide #1 WR for the Chargers to help Gates, Rivers and Tomlinson. Malcom Floyd (15, 210, 3) is currently slotted to start on the other side in Parker's absence, though he will be pushed by top draft choice Craig Davis. The Chargers are woefully thin as far as depth goes at the wideout position, as Kassim Osgood, who made the Pro Bowl as a special teamer, had no catches in 2006. In fact, outside of Floyd and Jackson, the remaining wide receivers on the active roster (Greg Camarillo, Sonny Shackleford, Davis, Osgood, Rhema McKnight, Onrea Jones, Rich Musinski) have ZERO career NFL catches combined.
DEFENSE: The Chargers have one of the most devastating defensive lines in all of football. They shut down running lanes and engulf blockers allowing the linebackers to flow to the ball and annihilate the ball carrier, or in some cases, the quarterback. Igor Olshansky (33 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery) plays one defensive end spot while Luis Castillo (37 tackles, 7 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT) is on the other side. In the middle of the two is huge defensive tackle Jamal Williams (69 tackles, 2 sacks.) Williams is 6'3, 348 pounds and is almost impossible to move from the middle of the defense. He easily requires two linemen to block him, and he was rewarded with a trip to Hawaii last year for a well deserved Pro Bowl appearance.
The Bolts had one of the fiercest linebacking units in the league in 2006, but will need to replace their interior guys, as Donnie Edwards left via free agency and Randall Godfrey was released after the draft. Edwards was all over the place for the San Diego defense, totalling 141 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3 interceptions and a fumble recovery. The Chargers will see him twice a year as he signed with the rival Chiefs. Godfrey totaled 57 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles, but his age (34) and the fact that he had not played a full season since 2000 prompted his release. Stephen Cooper (53 tackles, 2.5 sacks, FF) and Matt Wilhelm (27 tackles) are the heirs apparent to those spots.
The outside linebackers are two of the best the NFL has to offer. Shawne Merriman was a human wreckingball in 2006, racking up 62 tackles, 17 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and an interception, all while only playing 12 games, as he missed four for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Merriman probably records 20 sacks had he gotten to play all sixteen contests. The scary thing: Merriman is just 23 years of age, and has 27 sacks to his credit in his first two NFL seasons. Shawn Phillips was a bulldozer in his own right on the other side, as he picked up 65 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries himself. The Chargers as a team racked up 61 sacks in 2006.
The secondary was much improved in 2006 over previous seasons, where it was carved up more ways than a Madden turducken. Quentin Jammer (78 tackles, 14 pass defenses, 4 INT) and Drayton Florence (66 tackles, 13 pass defenses, 3 picks) are solid corners who can keep up with the fleetest of foot. Antonio Cromartie(24 tackles, 4 pass defenses as a rookie) is a competent nickel back. Cletis Gordon will be in the mix as well, most likely in dime back situations. Clinton Hart (48 tackles, 3 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR) is expected to slide into the starting SS role vacated with the release of Terrence Kiel, while Eric Weddle will be his understudy. Marlon McCree, who brought some veteran leadership and fire that was missing in the Charger secondary since Rodney Harrison left, will start again at free safety. McCree posted 59 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception in 2006. It was his personal foul penalty in the fourth quarter of the playoff game with New England that seemed to spark the Patriots to a rally.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Nate Kaeding has been one of the most solid kickers in the NFL since he was drafted, hitting 67 of 78 kicks (85.9 percent.) Last season he was 26 of 29, and made the Pro Bowl, totaling 136 points. For his career he is 20 of 26 from 40 to 49 yards, and 4 of 6 from 50+, though he has attempted just one FG of 50 or more yards the past two regular seasons. He did miss a potential game tying 54 yard field goal in the playoff loss to New England, but for the most part is very reliable.
Mike Scifres is the punter. Scifres averaged 41.9 yards on 69 kicks last season, dropping more than half (35) of his punts inside the opponent's 20 yard line, with only two touchbacks. Teams gained just 216 return yards on his punts, keeping his net average at a healthy 38.2 yards.
The kick return game is solid with Burner Turner set to be the kick returner. He averaged 26.5 yards on 36 returns a year ago. Antonio Cromartie is an option as well, as he averaged 29.7 yards on ten returns, including a 91 yard effort. Darren Sproleswill be in the mix at kick returner and is slated to be the punt return man as well if he can recover from missing all of 2006 with injuries.
The Chargers coverage teams are sound as well. They allowed an average of 21.8 yards a return on 90 kickoffs last year, with a 53 yarder being the long allowed. The punt team allowed an average of 8.0 yards on the limited return opportunities, and 81 of the 216 yards given up came on one return.
OUTLOOK: The Chargers have many of the same pieces that carried them to 14 wins a season ago. If they can find a wide receiver to step up and help the passing game, the offense will flourish once again. The keys defensively will be Cooper and Wilhelm. Can they match up and make plays that Edwards and Godfrey did for this team? The rest of the club is laced with talent. Look for San Diego to go 12-4 and win the West.
